Alternative Sentencing & Strategies for Successful Prisoner Reentry

Nationally, more than two million people are serving time in prison on any given day. Missouri ranks eighth in the nation in terms of imprisonment and has experienced substantial growth in incarceration over the past two decades. The reality of mass incarceration and the accruing cost of corrections have led many states to consider implementing alternatives to traditional incarceration and parole. These alternatives between parole and confinement are often called intermediate sanctions and are intended to provide correctional options that save money and prison beds without introducing risk to public safety. The State of Missouri has made strides in developing sanctions that can serve as an alternative to prison. Section 217.777.1, RSMo, charges the Missouri Department of Corrections with the administration of a community corrections program to encourage the establishment of local sentencing initiatives and correctional alternatives. Among the goals of this legislation and alternative sanctions in general, are to: Promote the accountability of offenders to crime victims, local communities and the state; Increase the use of restitution; Reduce the costs of treatment, punishment and supervision of off enders; and Improve public confidence in the criminal justice system by involving the public in the development of community-based sentencing options for eligible offenders.Includes bibliographical reference

Cost-Effectiveness of Early versus Late Cinacalcet Treatment in Addition to Standard Care for Secondary Renal Hyperparathyroidism in the USA

AbstractObjectivesThe objective of this research was to estimate lifetime cost-effectiveness of treating patients with cinacalcet early (when parathyroid hormone [PTH] levels are in the range of 300–500 pg/ml) versus delaying treatment with cinacalcet (cinacalcet initiated when PTH levels are >800 pg/ml) in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) in the US setting.MethodsA Markov model was developed to simulate the effects of early versus delayed use of cinacalcet (plus standard of care). Four different PTH ranges (≤300 pg/ml; 301–500 pg/ml; 501–800 pg/ml; >800 pg/ml) were used to represent four different health states within the Markov model. Associated with each Markov state (PTH range) were varying risks of major SHPT complications, including cardiovascular disease (CVD), fracture (Fx), and parathyroidectomy (PTx). Baseline cohort characteristics and risks of CVD, Fx, and PTx by PTH category were derived from a large US renal database and published sources. Costs were estimated from the US Renal Data System database and reported in 2006 US Dollars ($). Clinical and economic outcomes were discounted at 3.0$17,275 per QALY gained.ConclusionsEarly treatment with cinacalcet was associated with improvements in QALYs and would represent good value for money compared to delaying treatment with cinacalcet

Erythrocytosis and fatigue fractures associated with hepatoblastoma in a 3-year-old gelding

Hepatoblastoma was diagnosed in a 3-year-old Thoroughbred gelding presented with forelimb lameness with bilateral fatigue fractures of the proximal third metacarpal bones. An abdominal mass was detected on ultrasound examination of the abdomen. Absolute erythrocytosis was diagnosed after clinical and haematological evaluation. The fractured metacarpal bones were surgically removed but complications after surgery were fatal. The liver mass was diagnosed as a hepatoblastoma based on histology and immunochemical staining. The combination of hepatoblastoma and fatigue fractures has not been described previously in horses. A potential link between the hepatic and orthopaedic pathologies is hypothesised

Alopecia areata in two black Angus cows

Adult onset progressive alopecia and leukotrichia developed in 2 registered black Angus cows, aged 6 and 7 years. Histopathologic findings in skin were prominent melanin clumping and degeneration of matrix cells with formation of giant multinucleate cells within hair bulbs, accompanied by peribulbar melanin incontinence and fibrosis and dystrophic hair shafts. Intrabulbar and peribulbar lymphocytes were cluster of differentiation (CD)3-positive T cells. Findings were characteristic of alopecia areata.Keywords: Alopecia areata, Dermatosis, Cattle, Immunohistochemistr

Fatal Caprine arthritis encephalitis virus– like infection in 4 Rocky Mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus)

Over a 3.5-year period, 4 Rocky Mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus), housed at a single facility, developed clinical disease attributed to infection by Caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV). Ages ranged from 1 to 10 years. Three of the goats, a 1-year-old female, a 2-year-old male, and a 5-year-old male, had been fed raw domestic goat milk from a single source that was later found to have CAEV on the premises. The fourth animal, a 10-year-old male, had not ingested domestic goat milk but had been housed with the other 3 Rocky Mountain goats. All 4 animals had clinical signs of pneumonia prior to death. At necropsy, findings in lungs included marked diffuse interstitial pneumonia characterized histologically by severe lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates with massive alveolar proteinosis, interstitial fibrosis, and type II pneumocyte hyperplasia. One animal also developed left-sided hemiparesis, and locally extensive lymphoplasmacytic myeloencephalitis was present in the cranial cervical spinal cord. Two animals had joint effusions, as well as severe lymphoplasmacytic and ulcerative synovitis. Immunohistochemical staining of fixed sections of lung tissue from all 4 goats, as well as spinal cord in 1 affected animal, and synovium from 2 affected animals were positive for CAEV antigen. Serology testing for anti-CAEV antibodies was positive in the 2 goats tested. The cases suggest that Rocky Mountain goats are susceptible to naturally occurring CAEV infection, that CAEV from domestic goats can be transmitted to this species through infected milk and by horizontal transmission, and that viral infection can result in clinically severe multisystemic disease.Keywords: Viral disease, Rocky Mountain goats, Myelitis, Interstitial pneumonia, Goats, Arthritis, Caprine arthritis encephalitis viru

Post-traumatic ocular lymphoma in three rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

This report describes post-traumatic ocular lymphoma in 3 companion rabbits; 2 rabbits with unilateral disease and 1 with bilateral disease. Historical findings suggestive of a traumatic event included either external unilateral ocular trauma or bilateral phacoemulsification. Severe corneal changes, presence of an anterior chamber mass(es), low intraocular pressures, and ocular discomfort were noted on ophthalmic examinations. All eyes were treated for variable courses with standard ophthalmic topical medications (antibiotic, anti-inflammatories, and steroid) and systemic anti-inflammatories. Based upon progression of disease, all affected eyes were ultimately enucleated; lenticular capsular rupture and a round cell neoplasm effacing normal structures with variable mitotic indices were noted on histopathology. Neoplastic lymphocytes strongly expressed CD79a via immunohistochemistry and lacked expression for CD3, indicating B lymphocyte lineage and not of T cell lineage. A single animal had evidence of local metastasis to a regional lymph node. Post-traumatic sarcomas have been reported in this species previously, however, these cases are the first reports of this novel round cell variant, named post-traumatic ocular lymphoma due to the B cell lineage confirmed through immunohistochemistry. Clinicians should be aware of this clinical presentation and the possibility of metastasis when evaluating ocular pathology in this species. Copyright 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Effects of antiplatelet therapy on stroke risk by brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases: subgroup analyses of the RESTART randomised, open-label trial

Background Findings from the RESTART trial suggest that starting antiplatelet therapy might reduce the risk of recurrent symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage compared with avoiding antiplatelet therapy. Brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases (such as cerebral microbleeds) are associated with greater risks of recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage. We did subgroup analyses of the RESTART trial to explore whether these brain imaging features modify the effects of antiplatelet therapy

Vaccine breakthrough hypoxemic COVID-19 pneumonia in patients with auto-Abs neutralizing type I IFNs

Life-threatening `breakthrough' cases of critical COVID-19 are attributed to poor or waning antibody response to the SARS- CoV-2 vaccine in individuals already at risk. Pre-existing autoantibodies (auto-Abs) neutralizing type I IFNs underlie at least 15% of critical COVID-19 pneumonia cases in unvaccinated individuals; however, their contribution to hypoxemic breakthrough cases in vaccinated people remains unknown. Here, we studied a cohort of 48 individuals ( age 20-86 years) who received 2 doses of an mRNA vaccine and developed a breakthrough infection with hypoxemic COVID-19 pneumonia 2 weeks to 4 months later. Antibody levels to the vaccine, neutralization of the virus, and auto- Abs to type I IFNs were measured in the plasma. Forty-two individuals had no known deficiency of B cell immunity and a normal antibody response to the vaccine. Among them, ten (24%) had auto-Abs neutralizing type I IFNs (aged 43-86 years). Eight of these ten patients had auto-Abs neutralizing both IFN-a2 and IFN-., while two neutralized IFN-omega only. No patient neutralized IFN-ss. Seven neutralized 10 ng/mL of type I IFNs, and three 100 pg/mL only. Seven patients neutralized SARS-CoV-2 D614G and the Delta variant (B.1.617.2) efficiently, while one patient neutralized Delta slightly less efficiently. Two of the three patients neutralizing only 100 pg/mL of type I IFNs neutralized both D61G and Delta less efficiently. Despite two mRNA vaccine inoculations and the presence of circulating antibodies capable of neutralizing SARS-CoV-2, auto-Abs neutralizing type I IFNs may underlie a significant proportion of hypoxemic COVID-19 pneumonia cases, highlighting the importance of this particularly vulnerable population

Models of classroom assessment for course-based research experiences

Course-based research pedagogy involves positioning students as contributors to authentic research projects as part of an engaging educational experience that promotes their learning and persistence in science. To develop a model for assessing and grading students engaged in this type of learning experience, the assessment aims and practices of a community of experienced course-based research instructors were collected and analyzed. This approach defines four aims of course-based research assessment—(1) Assessing Laboratory Work and Scientific Thinking; (2) Evaluating Mastery of Concepts, Quantitative Thinking and Skills; (3) Appraising Forms of Scientific Communication; and (4) Metacognition of Learning—along with a set of practices for each aim. These aims and practices of assessment were then integrated with previously developed models of course-based research instruction to reveal an assessment program in which instructors provide extensive feedback to support productive student engagement in research while grading those aspects of research that are necessary for the student to succeed. Assessment conducted in this way delicately balances the need to facilitate students’ ongoing research with the requirement of a final grade without undercutting the important aims of a CRE education